the flyin' scotsman

Interesting Roger.

The clamps sent with my kit fitted the return hose just like the 'U' hose although the '88 MY is different from the '85/'86 years.

Big Dave

I'll take a look tonight and post the results here. I was surprised that the fit wasn't tight enough to keep the clamp from turning around the hose.

ROG100

Dave,
It could be the OD of the fittings itself. If the OD of the fitting is different at each connection it could require a smaller clamp.
Thanks,
Roger

ROG100

In the last 6 weeks I have changed suppliers for the small EFI hose clamps that are part of the Hose Kit.
Thanks to "Big Dave" we have found that the sizing of the new clamp is incorrect and in certain circumstances will not apply the required compression to satisfactorily compress the hose on to the spigot/end fitting.
As a precaution I am contacting all customers who purchased the kit and advising them of the same facts.

The "new" clamp is clearly marked with "ABA - Sweden - Stainless - 15.
When these clamps are used on the hose from the fuel cooler to the regulator (rear of engine) and the return line (front of engine) they "bottom out" in that the screw will be at the end of its travel.
Please check the clamps supplied and if you have this type of clamp please contact me at Roger@928sRus.com.
All clamps will be replace free of charge with the correct size.

After talking with the engineers at ABA (part of the Norma group) they found discrepancies in the online catalogue information displayed by their distributors.
In selecting the correct clamp the ABA 15 shows a range of 13mm to 15.3mm which is adequate for the compression of the 14.29mm OD hose while also allowing ease of assembly.
ABA (Norma) have changed the range of the 15 size to 13.5mm to 15.5mm which reduces the available compression in our application.
ABA (Norma) have recommended the 14 size for our application giving a range of 12.5mm to 14.5mm.

Many of you have purchased EFI Hose Kits from me in the past 3 months and I am issuing this statement as a precaution to ensure the safe operation of our cars.
Because the hose clamp bottoms out and spins with light pressure on the hose OD it is apparent that the hose clamp is not clamping.
The existing clamps on the car already are satisfactory and can be used with the EFI hose.

I am sorry for this inconvenience and ensure you of my best intentions at all times.
Thanks,
Roger

928sRus

Roger Tyson
131 Timberview Drive
Double Oak, TX 75077
Phone:817-430-2688
Fax: 214-853-4866
Cell: 972-523-9128

DonT

Roger - Thanks for the info on the clamps. Mine are the correct size (13-15mm).

ROG100

Don,
Thanks for the feedback.

The issue is with some of the kits supplied in the last few weeks and can be checked by looking at one of the clamps. If the clamp says ABA - Sweden - Stainless - 15 then contact me.
If your clamps are marked with 13-15mm or AWAB 14 then you are good to go.

Jim R.

Roger,

I'm assuming the clamps for the "U" shaped hose by the MAF are fine, mine seemed to be tightened up nicely (no spin) but were basically bottomed out.....

Jim

Big Dave

Thanks for the update Roger. Unless you see a reason to use the new, smaller clamps, I'll stay with the OEM clamps here. I think they aren't visible with the intake in place anyway.

BTW...The locations requiring smaller clamps on my '85 are circled in this picture:

ROG100

Jim,
Yes they are OK.
The end fitting on the U hose is larger OD so the clamp tightens down OK.
The hose over the fitting in itself is enough as originally supplied by the factory.
The clamp is an extra measure of security.
If you would like to replace them with the 14 to be extra extra safe let me know.
Roger

ROG100

Dave,
What about the return hose - Item 8?
How was that?
Thanks again for your information.
Roger

Big Dave

I was able to replace the rubber on item #8 with the hose you supplied, no problem. The existing fittings were identical to those on the "U" hose...quick work with a Dremel. The clamps you supplied bottom out, but are nice and snug.

Mike Frye

AWAB - 14 YES!!!

Thanks Roger!!

ROG100

Mike,
You are welcome 8>) 8>)

ROG100

To set the scene the issue has been about the size of the clamp and its ability to apply compression to the OD of the hose sufficent to ensure the hose does not come of the barb when the system is under pressure.
To some extent this is a mute point because some of the joints had no clamping force in the first place, however I would not rely on that theory 100% and added the clamps to give the max. on saftey margin.
Norma have rectified the clamp discrepancy on usable compression on the 15mm clamp.
In the last week I have completed an install on both the 85 to 86 and 87 to 95 setups.
I concluded that on the 87 to 95 cars that the 15mm clamp is the ideal clamp once tightened onto the hose. The 14mm works as well. The pictures below show the difference. This is all in an ideal World where the clamp is correctly torqued in the area of 15 to 20 in Lbs. Most people including myself do not torque hose clamps but tighten them to what they consider goodantight.
As Big Dave has already proven one of the hoses on the 85 to 86 kit would be better served with a smaller 14mm clamp. This kit will be updated with 14mm clamps instead of the 15mm clamps. I will be sending out sets of 14mm clamps to those who bought this kit in the coming week FOC.

There is not a lot of difference in the circumference of the 14mm v 15 mm -3.14mm and only 1mm on diameter so it is never easy to define the exact clamp to use. In some cases the choice of clamp size can be a personal preferance.

In conclusion - I will be adding 4x14mm clamps to the 8x15mm clamps in the 87 to 95 set and adding 2x15mm clamps to the 10x14mm clamps in the 85 to 86 set. This will cover all eventuallities.

The first picture is the 15mm clamp on the 87 to 95 U Hose.
The second is the 14mm on the same hose.

Charley B

I'm sure I must be totally missing the point here, but it sure seems to be much adu about nothing.